october 2016 From father Robert MAY GOD’S ABIDING PEACE BE WITH YOU. Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord, As you read this issue of News from the Narthex, it will only be a few short weeks before we are back in our church sanctuary and life will at least feel a bit more normal. For our next issue – the November one – we will be able to express all that we might be and are in fact thankful for. It will be hard to complete that column because it will be able to fill volumes. For this month as the season changes around us (whether the temperature says so or not), we will soon be projecting what our resources of time, shared gifts and treasure will look like in the year to come. I don’t know if the conversation makes lots of parishioners or families anxious or not. Let’s face it, it’s sort of become something that we endure from year to year. Like a kidney stone – we wince in pain for a moment or two and then it passes… All better, let’s move on. A man named Michael Durall has spent a good part of his adult life involved in creating healthy stewardship environments. He writes of the time he was invited to a church to speak to its newcomers at a “Newcomer Orientation Program.” He was asked to do something about stewardship beyond the local congregation. Seeing that this church was of a different denomination from his own, he was curious as to how it approached stewardship. What are members expected to do? What does the church ask them to give? He was looking forward to hearing their story—what was the congregation like, what was their identity as a community, what was the work God was calling them to do? He writes in his book Creating Congregations of Generous People, “I thought the conversation would be about how church members worked and worshipped together, how they supported one another as fellow parishioners and how they engaged the larger world. I wanted to know how they grew in faith and strengthened their relationship with God from year to year.” These of course are certainly valid questions for all individuals in any church or congregation! “Instead, I found what I call the ‘cafeteria’ approach to religion. Representatives from the congregation spoke about what the church offered—men’s groups, women’s groups, recitals and other musical events, continuing formation programs and various forums. There was mention of the perennial need for Sunday-school teachers, but the emphasis was on programs and events people could attend.” Durall noted that Sunday worship was not mentioned as one of the offerings. Here was an attitude of (continued on page 3) NEWS FROM THE N ARTHEX At Emmanuel Episcopal Church, we strive to provide people the opportunity for growth in their faith through our mutual love, respect and acceptance of one another.
Transcript
october 2016
From father Robert
MAY GOD’S ABIDING PEACE BE WITH YOU.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,
As you read this issue of News from the Narthex, it will only be a few short weeks before we are back in our church sanctuary and life will at least feel a bit more normal. For our next issue – the November one – we will be able to express all that we might be and are in fact thankful for. It will be hard to complete that column because it will be able to fill volumes.
For this month as the season changes around us (whether the temperature says so or not), we will soon be projecting what our resources of time, shared gifts and treasure will look like in the year to come. I don’t know if the conversation makes lots of parishioners or families anxious or not. Let’s face it, it’s sort of become something that we endure from year to year. Like a kidney stone – we wince in pain for a moment or two and then it
passes… All better, let’s move on.
A man named Michael Durall has spent a good part of his adult life involved in creating healthy stewardship environments. He writes of the time he was invited to a church to speak to its newcomers at a “Newcomer Orientation Program.” He was asked to do something about stewardship beyond the local congregation. Seeing that this church was of a different denomination from his own, he was curious as to how it approached stewardship. What are members expected to do? What does the church ask them to give? He was looking forward to hearing their story—what was the congregation like, what was their identity as a community, what was the work God was calling them to do?
He writes in his book Creating Congregations of Generous People, “I thought the conversation would be
about how church members worked and worshipped together, how they supported one another as fellow parishioners and how they engaged the larger world. I wanted to know how they grew in faith and strengthened their relationship with God from year to year.” These of course are certainly valid questions for all individuals in any church or congregation! “Instead, I found what I call the ‘cafeteria’ approach to religion. Representatives from the congregation spoke about what the church offered—men’s groups, women’s groups, recitals and other musical events, continuing formation programs and various forums. There was mention of the perennial need for Sunday-school teachers, but the emphasis was on programs and events people could attend.”
Durall noted that Sunday worship was not mentioned as one of the offerings. Here was an attitude of (continued on page 3)
NEWS FROM THE NARTHEX
At Emmanuel Episcopal Church, we strive to provide people the opportunity for growth in their faith through our mutual love, respect and acceptance of one another.
News from the narthex
Emmanuel Episcopal
Church
Served by the People of God in the
name of
Bishop Rob Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta
And the Vestry
Phil Bettendorf, Finance Ellen Cowne, Parish Life
Bill Fox, Facilities Brian Freese, Formation Rob Hoyt, Stewardship
Weyman Johnson, Outreach Roger Lange, Junior Warden
Naomi Norman, Senior Warden Crysty Odom, Parish Life
Terrie Seward, Youth Ministry Brooke Stortz, Day School
Diane Wahlers, Pastoral Care
and supported by the Staff:
Georgia Collier Melissa Fulcher Karen Holland
Sam Polk Denise Thomas
and assisted by the Clergy
Fr. Robert Salamone, Rector
Fr. Christopher Cole, Assistant Rector
498 Prince Avenue Athens GA 30601
706-543-1294
www.emmaneulathens.org
The Adult Faith Formation Committee offers programs that
explore Holy Scripture, Anglican tradition, and Church history to
deepen personal faith, strengthen community, and share the Gospel with each other.
Christian formation, according to the Episcopal Church of the USA, is the lifelong process of growing in our relationship with God, self, others, and all creation. Every experience in our lives can provide us with the opportunity to express our faith; the challenge we face is recognizing these opportunities and learning ways to live a sometimes countercultural life in a secular world.
Adult Formation meets in the Westminster room, downstairs in the Formation Building. Please join
us for these offerings this month.
October 2: The Christian Year: Liturgical Time – Understanding and Practice,” a facilitated discussion with Fr. Gregory Tipton.
October 16 and October 23: “Christian Decision-Making,” facilitated by Bob Bottoms, a continuing dialogue. In the midst of a challenging political campaign can we apply our faith to the decisions we make? In the words of former Senator John Danforth, can we use our faith as an antidote to egotism and as a force for reconciliation? We will examine these questions through the lens of the Gospel of Luke.
October 30: “Stephen Ministry – Christian Caregiving,” facilitated by Sue Holt and Debra Harden, leaders of the Stephen Ministry group at Emmanuel.
Adult Formation for
October
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Trip to The
Monastery of The
Holy Spirit
Take a mini retreat on Wednesday, October 19th to The Monastery of The Holy Spirit near Conyers, GA. This day trip is sponsored by the Emmanuel Elder Connection committee and all are welcome. Holy Spirit Monastery belongs to the Trappist Order, a contemplative order of monks dedicated to the worship of God under the Rule of St. Benedict.
We will depart the church parking lot in the van at 10:00 a.m. and return by 3:30 p.m. This will allow time to tour the museum and grounds prior to the midday worship service in the beautiful Gothic Abbey Church. We will learn about the ancient tradition of monasticism, have a gourmet box lunch and free time to explore the lovely bookstore and see the bonsai gardens. You might enjoy the Monk’s Bakery where they produce fudge, fruitcakes, and biscotti.
Your $5 reservation includes the box lunch and transportation. Call Rosalyn DeVorsey, 706-850-5200 or Margaret Strahl, 706-549-0015 by October 14th and select your lunch. Your choices include a Greek or Garden salad and either a roasted turkey, ham, chicken salad, or garden vegetarian sandwich.
Transitions
To Emmanuel
Christopher Johnston from St. Matthias Episcopal Church; Midlothian VA
John Knowlton from First Baptism Church; Athens GA
Mary Vandiver from Redeemer Presbyterian; Athens GA
Stephen Pritchett from Christ Episcopal Church; Kennesaw GA
From Emmanuel
Hoyt and Sally Bonynge to Grace Episcopal Church; Gainesville GA
(continued from page 1) “How can we inform you, entertain you and meet your consumer needs?” rather than one of how people work together to make God’s presence more visible in their lives and in the larger world.
In another important work, Behind the Stained Glass Windows: Money Dynamics in the Church, John and Sylvia Ronsvalle conclude: “Church members have changed from Stewards to Consumers. People are not returning a portion of their incomes to God. Rather, they are paying for services rendered by the church.” (ouch)
Those words are sobering. And as we reflect on them (and please do), we find they are true. The danger is that we (or any congregation) can easily cultivate a climate of self-absorption and become a consumer of its own life rather than a contributor to God’s wider world.
Stewardship is a big word. It includes all the ways in which we encourage people to lead generous lives, and how we use all the resources at our disposal to strengthen our religious faith and make the world a better place. For me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about using our gifts to build up the
church.
How does that happen? There are probably as many answers to that question as there are individual members living out their Baptismal promises. But the overarching answer for all of us is this: through personal participation in and support of the Church’s mission of proclaiming and teaching, serving and sanctifying. That’s probably how it happens. Charitable giving helps people live honorable lives. Being religious people and sharing in good measure what we have been given should change – forever – our lives, lives that reflect the presence and the goodness of God. Lives that truly reflect the healing and growth we’ve received.
This year we have a magnificent opportunity to be “Celebrating Renewal - Building Mission” here at Emmanuel. We will joyfully give thanks to God in our renewed spiritual home and be able to reach out in mission and ministry here and beyond.
I look forward to our future continuing to unfold before us in service to the Lord.
Blessings, Robert
News from the narthex
5
Catechesis of the good shepherd
opening day events
Left: Kerry Hogan works with a small group of Level II students on the liturgical calendar.
Above: Level II students work together to set a replica of the essential elements on an altar.
Above: Level I children follow Miss GiGi (Bobbi Brandenburg) in a procession to Enthrone the Bible and
reverently dress the prayer table.
News from the narthex
October Birthdays
1 Delaney Evans, Craig White 2 Kristian White, Suzanne Herrin 4 Chase Brown 5 Janet Williamson 7 Wally Eberhard, Heidi Simmonds, Sean Hogan 8 Erin Gray 9 Neal Pylant, Simon Hogan 10 Banner Allen
11 Coles Ehlers 12 Janet Macchi, Rebecca McCarthy 13 Bob Bretscher, John Waters, Scott Shaw, Sara Baker, Camille Martin, Micaela Hobbs, Sarah Hicks 14 Adrian Pritchett 15 Naomi Norman 16 Clara McLanahan 17 Amelia Kolodsick
18 Balfour Hunnicutt, Lucy Kemp 19 Stephen Bartlett 20 Zachary McCaskey 21 Beverly Sligh 22 Jack Wesley Cook 23 Benjamin Walters, Philly Henry, Quinn Moore 24 Jody Vrana, Allen Wagner 25 James Dolphus, Preston
Stanfield 27 Jan Wheeler, Marilyn Appleby, Karen Denning, Parker Brown 29 Jane Payne, Gordon Sligh, Wyatt Matthews 30 Stephen Gray, Caddie Grow 31 Carol Winthrop
Friends, please join us in the narthex on November
3rd for a "Sneak Peek" of our restored Emmanuel
Episcopal Church! We will have a special window
of time on this night only to see our sacred space
and raise money for our church. Tickets are $100
(75% tax deductible) per person and include food,
drinks, silent auction and the opportunity to write
a message to the future that will be placed inside
the altar. The party starts at 6:30 and includes
compline inside the church.
As you know, when the altar was moved during
this restoration process, a bottle containing papers
from 1924 was discovered inside the altar! We will
be placing a replica of the papers found in that
bottle along with our own messages for future
generations. The silent auction will feature floor
pieces from the church, lanterns, paintings, a
custom table from the old floor and much more!
Catering will be provided by Seabear Oyster Bar
and home.made and will include beverages. For
parishioners who cannot attend the event, you will
be able to purchase the opportunity to leave a
message in the time capsule for $25 (100% tax
deductible). This is a night you don't want to miss!
We hope to see you on November 3rd!
Come to the Emmanuel Fund Raiser, November 3rd
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Emmanuel’s Service & Faith Formation schedule is as follows; only exceptions are listed on the calendar below:
Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Healing Service & Eucharist, Chapel
Saturdays: 5:30 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II, Chapel
Sundays: 8:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I, Church; 9:15 am Faith Formation for Children & Youth; 9:30 am Adult Formation, Westminster, and 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II, Church
We, the Vestry of Emmanuel Church, promise to honor God by nurturing the spirit and ministering to God’s people. We will support everyone’s gifts for service and leadership made possible by God’s grace. Ministry to the poor will be at the center of all we do. We promise to welcome with Christian hospitality all persons and to offer opportunities to all to grow in faith. We will strengthen ourselves through faithfulness in worship, daily prayer, and stewardship of our time, talents and treasure. We will foster love and joy in God’s service.
